1. Information Session: GESI Call
December, 2016

2. Outline Overview Guidance on the application process Results Timelines
Further information
Q&A

3. About STAR-Ghana
What: Multi-donor funded voice and accountability programme which supports civil society to strengthen accountability and responsiveness of the state to citizens’ issues.
STAR-Ghana is in its second phase and is managed by a consortium led by Christian Aid with Mango, Social Development Direct, Overseas Development Institute, Nkum Associates and On Our Radar.
Donors: UK Aid, DANIDA, and the EU
Why:
Increase the influence of civil society and parliament in the governance of public goods and service delivery in Ghana.
Develop a well-informed and active civil society able to contribute to transformational change around key challenges of poverty, inequality and inclusion for all citizens

4. GESI Strategy at a glance

5. Equality vrs Equity

6. Why a GESI Call?
To promote the achievement of STAR-Ghana’s overall goal and expected outcomes by ensuring that the voice, needs and rights of women and other marginalised groups are raised up, heard and engaged with by civil society and the State.
To increase the effectiveness of citizen influencing in a fully inclusive way to achieve STAR-Ghana’s overall aim of a vibrant, well-informed and assertive civil society able to contribute to transformational national development and inclusive access to high quality, responsive public services for all Ghanaian citizens.

7. Why a GESI Call?
Underscores the priority given to GESI through practical support and collaboration with initiatives that have the reduction of gender inequality and social exclusion as their primary objective;
Seeks to ensure that diverse forms of civil society, from large and formal CSOs to less formal citizen action groups, can benefit from and contribute to STAR Ghana’s grant programme and;
Capitalises on the new developments in government policy and the women’s rights agenda in Ghana: the launch of a National Gender Policy and the Social Protection Policy by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) and the publication of the second edition of the Women’s Manifesto for Ghana.

8. Call components Strategic partnership component:
Targets national level organisations with the capacity for strategic influencing on GESI Issues
Long-term partnerships over a maximum of three year period;
Small Grants Component:
Targets smaller CSOs at community/district levels to address locally salient GESI issues
Short-term (12 months) interventions to pilot innovative strategies

9. Strategic Component
Provides project support to a limited number of strategic partnerships to develop and implement initiatives/interventions that address systemic barriers to gender equality and social inclusion in Ghana.
Eligibility limited to national/regional level CSOs (including academic/research institutions, trade unions, private sector and professional associations) with demonstrable experiences in strategic level advocacy and influencing, particularly on GESI issues;
Two-stage application process:
Concept Note
Co-development of full proposal with STAR-Ghana

10. Small Grants Component
Targets CBOs/NGOs with a strong district or community presence and base. Includes:
Farmer and faith-based organisations;
Private sector and business associations;
Town/area/community associations
Provides small grants support, based on competitive bids, to pilot innovative strategies that address locally salient GESI issues at the community or district levels;
Focus on strengthening engagements between citizens and district/community/traditional authorities for improved access to responsive services and resources and participation in governance; .

11. Maximum 12 month duration GHS150,000 threshold
Small grants
Strategic
Maximum 12 month duration
GHS150,000 threshold
One step application process
Priority given to approaches that:
 Pilot innovative ideas, strategies and approaches
Adapt and customize approaches that have proven potential
Engage with local/traditional governance institutions and processes to enhance the voices of women and marginalised groups voice
Address practical grassroots issues at national level
Up to 3 years
GHS800,000 threshold
Two step application process
Link actors across levels of governance (community, district, regional and national); and sector (civil society, media and the private sector)
Demonstrate co-development and co-implementation of projects in collaboration with CSOs led by socially excluded people and groups
Tackle systemic barriers to gender inequality and social exclusion

12. Key Considerations Small Grants Component
No business-as-usual proposals; what is different/innovative/new?
Demonstrate clear rationale for project and choice of issues/challenges;
Demonstrate what will change for GESI groups;
Special consideration will be given to organisations that are led and staffed by socially excluded people

13. Key Considerations – Small Grants Component (2)
Strategies should demonstrate, where possible and relevant:
Citizen mobilisation for collective engagement;
The building/development of alliances and coalitions of stakeholders
The use of digital and other technology
Clear demonstration of:
Applicant’s track record of delivering results for members/target groups
What will change as a result of the project;
Who will benefit from the changes.

14. Key Considerations Strategic Component
Organisation’s track record critical:
Policy influencing at strategic national levels;
Building broad coalitions and alliances
expertise to engage at the national level on GESI in a strategic way
Component focuses on:
Addressing systemic barriers to claim and realise the rights of marginalised groups ;
Develop and test strategies for movement-building and collective action to advance gender equality and social inclusion in Ghana

15. Key Considerations Strategic Component
Use Concept note to:
Demonstrate competencies;
Sell rationale for your idea;
Demonstrate the innovativeness of your concept
Demonstrate the analysis that informed selection of key problem/issue, proposed strategies and choice of partnerships

16. Guiding Principles
The grant-making process is underpinned by the following principles below, which must be clearly demonstrated in all applications:
Value for money (VfM)
Track record of previous or ongoing work
Evidence of partnerships or other collaborations with relevant state and non-state actors to implement the proposed project
Embed learning in the project at design stage

17. Value for money (VfM)
Definition: achieving the best results we can with the money and resources we have. We are concerned with:
Scale = numbers of people benefiting
Depth = addressing the root causes not just the symptoms of problems
Lasting = The sustainability of change
Inclusion = Change which benefits people who are more excluded and marginalised).

18. VFM Components Key questions to ask:
How big, deep, lasting and inclusive is the change we’re making?
Can we achieve the same level of change/results with fewer resources?
Can we achieve greater change with the same resources?

19. What does STAR-Ghana mean by ‘RESULTS’

20. Outcome level: (Medium to long-term)
Immediate outcomes - noticeable changes in awareness, skills, knowledge and other capacities necessary for social and economic production.
Intermediate outcomes - significant changes in institutions, practices, behaviours, technologies, relationships and other systemic changes.
Overall outcomes - the achievement of stated goals which bring about lasting impacts on society.

21. STAR-Ghana Project Performance Plan & Budget

22. Refer to link below
..\..\..\..\..\..\..\Desktop\STAR-Ghana_GP Project Performance Budget Template - Small Grants (2)-frank.xlsx

23. Remember …
Distinguish between the overall outcome and results. Your results should be more targeted and critical to achieving the overall outcome
State what will be accomplished with funding granted and how results will be accomplished (what will be different as a result of this project?)
Detail the exact result the program will achieve for a specified number of participants/beneficiaries, within a limited period of time
Define from the outset the mechanism through which the program (results/outcomes) can be assessed

24. Timelines

25. SMALL GRANTS
DATE
ACTIVITY
5 December
Launch GESI Call
Launch media call
12 – 23 December
Information sessions in all 10 Regions (Schedule Attached to Notes/Adverts)
2017
5 January
Call closes
9 January - 7 February
Assessment & Due Diligence (PMT & independent assessors)
14 Feb 2017
GSC meeting - GSC recommendations
21 Feb 2017
SC meeting - SC approval
23 – 28 Feb 2017
Feedback to applicants on outcome and contracting
From 3 March 2017
Contracts and Disbursements

26. STRATEGIC COMPONENT
DATE
ACTIVITY
5 December
Launch GESI Call
Launch media call
12 – 23 Dec
Information sessions
2017
5 Jan
Call closes
9 – 21 Jan
Assessment & Due Diligence
24 Jan - 17 Feb
Proposal Dev’t
21 Feb
GSC meeting - GSC recommendations
28 Feb
SC meeting - SC approval
2-6 Mar
Feedback to applicants on outcome
From 7 Mar
Contracts and Disbursements

27. Further information
Web: Telephone:

28. Thank You
Questions/comments